We are seniors and juniors at Vandegrift High School hoping to end single use plastic items in our cafeteria. We have goals of improving the health of our students, decreasing the spending of our cafeteria, and reducing our impact on the planet.

With a total student population of approximately 2,800, many of whom eat both the breakfast and lunch provided by our school, we see many single use trays, cups, condiment packages, utensils, and other items disposed of daily. Encountering styrofoam items multiple times, five days a week can have serious health effects on our students. In fact, the EPA deems styrene, a chemical in polystyrene, as a health threat to humans. The mass amounts of non-recyclable items being used by our cafeteria also has harmful impacts on our planet. It’s estimated that styrofoam takes 500 years to decompose once in a landfill and 10-20 for most other food packages. When considering that switching to reusable items in cafeterias and restaurants typically pays for the initial investment in a year or two, we knew advocating to make the switch at our school was a necessity.

Get Involved

Want to help us reach our goals for a healthier and more sustainable Vandegrift High School while saving taxpayer dollars?

1. Donate to the cause by clicking the Donate button below
2. Spread the word to friends and family on social media
3. Volunteer if you you're a Vandegrift student or a parent
4. Start a project at your school!

Reach out on any of the above items via the web form below. Let's move forward together.